Can the nurse in charge’s NMC PIN be at risk if a drug error is made by a care assistant?

Answered by Lindsay Rees

As a nurse, you must always work to the professional standards detailed in the NMC Code of Conduct.

The NMC Code states:

Standard 11

‘Be accountable for your decisions to delegate tasks and duties to other people.’

To achieve this, you must:

• 11.1 only delegate tasks and duties that are within the other person’s scope of competence, making sure that they fully understand your instructions
• 11.2 make sure that everyone you delegate tasks to is adequately supervised and supported so they can provide safe and compassionate care
• 11.3 confirm that the outcome of any task you have delegated to someone else meets the required standard

For further information, please see the following links:

• https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/delegation-and-accountability-supplementary-information-to-the-nmc-code.pdf
• https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf